> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cutaway-docs.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Background, crop and shape

> Put a nice background behind your screen, crop out extra bits, and pick the video shape.

## Background

Cutaway puts your screen recording on a colorful background with rounded corners, so it looks polished.

Click the **Background** icon in the right sidebar (or press **Command + 1**).

![The Background panel with wallpaper choices, blur, padding and rounded corners](https://mintcdn.com/cutaway-docs/XxDikROkCqqX_dyv/images/screens/tab-background.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XxDikROkCqqX_dyv\&q=85\&s=3d8e29835cecb81ab2e0b0e66fe08945)

* **Wallpaper**: pick one of the ready-made pictures. Or press **Pick random wallpaper**.
* **Gradient**: a smooth blend between two colors. Drag **Angle** to turn the direction of the blend.
* **Color**: one plain color. Click **Custom colour** (the last box) to pick any color you like.
* **Image**: a picture from your Mac (press **Choose an image…**), or a free photo from the internet (see below).

Below that:

* **Background blur**: makes the background softer.
* **Padding**: how much background shows around your screen. Less padding means a bigger screen.
* **Rounded corners**: how round the corners of your screen are.
* **Shadow**: a soft shadow under your screen.
* **Inset**: a thin light edge around your screen.

### Find a background photo online

Pick **Image**, then use **Search photos** to find a free photo from Unsplash. Type a word like "mountains" and click a photo to use it.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Search needs a free Unsplash key first. Get one at unsplash.com/developers, then paste it into **Unsplash access key** under **Settings** → **Storage** → **Online background photos**. Only your search words are sent to Unsplash. Nothing from your project is.

## Screen look

The **Screen look** group at the bottom of the Background panel changes the colors and sharpness of your screen recording:

* **Screen LUT**: a color recipe file from another app. Press **Choose a .cube file…** to pick one, then drag **Strength** to make it stronger or softer. The file is copied into your project.
* **Screen sharpening**: drag **Amount** to make your screen a little crisper.

## Crop

**Cropping** cuts away the edges of your recording, so only the part you want shows. For example, to hide your Mac's menu bar.

**1. Press Crop**

It's above the top-left corner of the preview.

**2. Drag the edges**

Drag the corners and edges of the box. Only what's inside the box will appear in the video.

**3. Save**

Press the purple button at the bottom to keep your crop.

![The Crop window with a box around the recording and shape choices](https://mintcdn.com/cutaway-docs/XxDikROkCqqX_dyv/images/screens/crop.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XxDikROkCqqX_dyv\&q=85\&s=928dbd2932afb4b7bb03984d3e394274)

## Video shape

The button above the preview (it says **Wide 16:9**) sets the shape of your whole video.

![The video shape menu](https://mintcdn.com/cutaway-docs/XxDikROkCqqX_dyv/images/screens/output-shape.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XxDikROkCqqX_dyv\&q=85\&s=80900e436a42ee7b41804deaf1521822)

* **Wide 16:9**: the normal shape for YouTube and computer screens. Use this if you're not sure.
* **Vertical 9:16**: tall, for phones (Shorts, TikTok, Reels).
* **Square 1:1**: for some social feeds.
* **Classic 4:3** and **Tall 4:5**: other shapes some sites like.

> [!TIP]
>
> Want upright Shorts from a wide video? Use the [Shorts](https://cutaway-docs.mintlify.site/share/shorts.md) page. It makes upright copies and leaves your main video alone.

## Presets

Found a look you love? Press **Presets** in the top bar to save this project's look, and use it again on your next video.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.